Timing Measurement System suits flat screen applications.
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Press Release Summary:
Designed to assess screen timing dependency, Imaging OPTIScope consists of sensors, supporting software, and FPDDrive signal generator. Imaging sensor is photomultiplier tube with embedded acquisition card, and CMOS sensor gives direct view of area where timing signal is averaged. Other features include photopic filter and angular aperture of ±2°. Digital information can be optionally sub-sampled; version designed for LCD market has minimum sampling rate fixed at 10 µsec.
Original Press Release:
Eldim Introduces the Third Generation of its Imaging Optiscope Timing Measurement System Suited for Flat Screen Applications
With the increasingly prolific use of LCD screens in various industries, electro-optical specifications need to be guaranteed for a screen to remain competitive in the display market. The technique of measuring the timing of electronic pixels plays a significant role in attempting to reduce response time, though the measuring standards have not kept up with some industries' display requirements. Eldim, a leader in the optical characterization of LCD screens, introduces the third generation of the Imaging OPTIScope, the timing measurement system for complete and precise assessment of a screen's timing dependency.
The Imaging OPTIScope complies with existing standards (ISO, VESA, EIAJ, etc.), and is also upgradable to adapt to the latest user requirements. This imaging sensor is a photomultiplier tube (PMT) with an embedded acquisition card to sample its signal. A CMOS sensor was added to give the user a direct view of the area where the timing signal is averaged. Other new features include a photopic filter for photometric measurements, systematically compensated electronic noise, and an angular aperture of ±2° in accordance with current standards.
The sensor's electronics consist of a 4 MB embedded memory, sampled by a 16-bit analog-digital converter. The digital information can then optionally sub-sampled. The version designed for the LCD market has a minimum sampling rate fixed at 10 microseconds. A version fixed at 1 microseconds is also available for specific applications requiring measurements such as phosphors decay time or OLED response time. The synchronizations are managed by an internal trigger and two external triggers. The USB 2.0 connection allows a considerable gain in acquisition time.
Compared to existing solutions, the measurement of grey-to-grey (G2G) response time is five times faster, as the Imaging OPTIScope easily deals with the constraints for this kind of measurement. Measuring the response time between two close levels of grey requires improved sensor sensitivity and dynamics, and this apparatus has very quickly established itself on the market as the only equipment with this level of sensitivity-tests have confirmed an acquisition dynamic range of 100 db.
For optimum analysis, Eldim has collaborated with standards committees and various industrial players to develop new methods better suited to the newer screen formats and the recent occurrence of stronger high-frequency flicker in them. The first step for analysis consists of reducing the effect of noise or flicker, either by applying a low-pass filter, for which the disturbance is on the original signal and compensated by a prior calibration, or a stop-band filter adjusted to the flicker frequency. The response times can then be extracted either in the conventional manner, or by directly calibrating a theoretical timing dependency on the filtered signals. Thus "overshot" screens can be characterized not only by their response times but also by the amplitude of the overshoot and its lag. This methodology is more accurate than existing methods and provides additional information.
The supporting software includes the following functions: screen control, acquisition parameters management, measurement zone display, application of automatic and manual signal-processing algorithms, advanced options for signal processing and regression as well as the display, printing and exporting of results. As a supporting hardware solution, the FPDDrive can generate signals, or test patterns, in the DVI, LVDS, or TTL formats, which are compatible with the device's control software.
The sensor, software, and test-pattern generator combine to offer a complete solution for timing analysis. Users, screen integrators, and faceplate manufacturers already favor Imaging OPTIScope for overdrive setting and G2G response time and flicker measurement in record time. The manufacturers of drivers for the display industry save invaluable time thanks to the optimization of the overdrive function.
ELDIM has been developing measuring solutions for the display industry for 15 years. A dynamic and responsive R&D policy gives the company the essential assets to maintain its position as market leader. The fifth generation of EZContrast, the EZContrast XL88, has recently been launched to allow rapid measurement of view angles up to 88°.
For further information, please contact:
ELDIM SA
Luc Margerie
1185 rue d'Epron
14200 Herouville Saint-Clair
France
Tel: + 33 (0) 2 31 94 76 00
Fax: + 33 (0) 2 31 94 09 50
E-mail : lmargerie@eldim.fr
Web site: www.eldim.fr
